Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Like you, St. Mary’s wonderful
volunteers, lay staff and clergy have been preparing for this day. We have been
decorating, wrapping, shopping and making plans for family celebrations. We
have also been preparing for your/our time in this beautiful church. Wreaths
and garland are hung. Light bulbs have been changed and candles lit. (To name
but a few.)

Sing
choirs of angels

The music has been planned with an
attention to detail that rivals a 12 course gourmet dinner. Our music ministry
has rehearsed and is excited to lead you in traditional favorites and
contemporary surprises.

O
come, let us adore him

This is where it all comes together.
Long-time parishioners, first-time visitors, lectors, ushers, sheep and stars
in the children’s pageant; all drawn by an adorable baby who is Emmanuel - God
with us.

Gloria
in excelsis Deo

We sing Glory to God in the highest
with the angels, saints and our loved ones who are with them in heaven.

All
the ends of the earth have seen the power of God

God continues to act in the world
through the Holy Spirit. St. Mary’s responds to the Spirit’s call in the many
works of service we perform throughout the year. Recently hundreds of presents
placed under the giving tree were distributed to grateful recipients in nearby
towns. On Saturday (the day before Christmas Eve) our care kitchen team fed and
brought gifts to members of our own community. Each of you have responded to
the Spirit’s call by being here today.

And
He Shall Reign, forevermore, forevermore

Jesus is more than the reason for
the season. He is the King of all Kings and Lord of Lords. Coming to church and
being church in the world help us to live as members of Christ’s kingdom even
as we live in the world.

Silent Night Holy
Night - Joy to the World

Everything is fine at home.

So I’ll take the risk and turn off my phone

I’ll open the book follow along

Pray the prayers sing the songs

I’ll listen carefully to hear Jesus to say,

“I came for you that Christmas Day”

Blessed to be doing what I love at St. Mary’s,

Bruce

PS

My mom, Christine Mauro celebrates
her 80th birthday this Christmas. Among many things; she encouraged me to
persevere in music so I had something to fall back on. I’ve been “falling back”
for forty years.

Thank
you, Mom. Happy birthday! See you after the last mass. Thanks for cooking.
(We’re very hungry!)

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

On the third Sunday of Advent the words of the prophet Isaiah are
again fulfilled in a gospel account featuring John the Baptist. The following may prove helpful in
differentiating between John the Baptist and John the Evangelist:

John the
Baptist was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth.Elizabeth was related to Mary, the Mother of
Jesus.Thus, John and Jesus were
related.(BTW:These details are only found in the gospel of
Luke.)

John the
Evangelist was the writer of the 4th
gospel.He and his brother James were the
sons of Zebedee and Salome were two of Jesus’ 12 apostles.This John is often referred to as Jesus’
beloved disciple and is to whom Jesus entrusts his mother at the crucifixion.

The Gospel of John is the last
of the four gospel accounts to be written.Scripture scholars suggest that Mark’s gospel was written around 70 A.D.
and John’s somewhere between 90 and 100 A.D.

The following quote from the U.
S. Conference of Bishop’s website offers some insight as to whytheGospel
of John is different from the other 3 synoptic gospels.(syn = similaroptic = point of view)

The fourth gospel is not simply
history; the narrative has been organized and adapted to

serve the evangelist’s
theological purposes as well.

So, what is the Evangelist’s
theological purpose?(What is he trying
to tell us about God?)Today’s gospel
makes it clear that Jesus is the Messiah (i.e. the Christ) and John is his
herald.

****

The third Sunday of Advent reflects
the joy of our closeness to the celebration of Christ’s birth.We light the rose colored candle.The entrance antiphon invites us “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say,
rejoice.Indeed, the Lord is near.”

Today’s music reflects this
joy-filled anticipation.The prelude
“Emmanuel” (#56) is a contemporary setting of the O Antiphons by Steve
Angrisano that is quickly becoming part of the advent repertoire.“Beyond the Moon and Stars”(#46) speaks of the light of the Lord and connects
us to the light of which John the Baptist came to testify.“Find
Us Ready” (printed in the Advent booklet) speaks of our doing the work of the
kingdom and preparing for Christ’s second coming.We conclude with Curtis Stephan’s “Ready the
Way” (#49) which sends us into the final full week of preparation before
Christmas.

*****

Thank you to those who have
responded to the call to be part of our social concerns ministry.Our e-mail list has grown to over 60
parishioners!

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

As it is written in
Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will
prepare your way.”

Mark 1:2

This
line from Mark’s gospel illustrates a pattern of prophecy and fulfillment that
will continue throughout the upcoming weeks. John the Baptist is the voice
crying out in the wilderness of which Isaiah foretells. Jesus is the shepherd who feeds his flock and
gathers the lambs with care.

While scripture
scholars continue to argue over when and who wrote these scriptural accounts
the following timeline might prove helpful:

742
B.C. ———————3O A.D ————-60 A.D.————

Isaiah Jesus’
Ministry Book of Mark

oIsaiah began his prophetic ministry over 700 years before the
birth of Christ.

oMark’s gospel was the first gospel recorded about 30 years after
Jesus died. (Contrary to the popular phrase: “Matthew, Mark, Luke and John”)

Today’s
music highlights the beautiful images contained in Isaiah’s prophecy. It speaks
of the voice crying out in the wilderness as well as the promised comfort and
well-being of God’s Kingdom.

The
prelude (A Voice Cries Out) has been selected to help us transition from whatever
held our attention prior to mass to the prophecies of Isaiah which we will be
proclaimed during the liturgy of the word.

Our
procession will be accompanied by instrumental music to accentuate advent’s
being a season of preparation and expectation.

We respond
to the penitential rite singing “Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee
O Israel” praising God for the gift of forgiveness in Jesus.

I urge
you to continue a liturgical new year’s resolution of openness, attentiveness,
transformation and preparedness. Be
receptive to the gift of God’s saving Word and loving presence.

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About Me

My passion is to inspire, educate and empower the congregation I serve.
The primary purpose of this page is to promote music's integral role in Roman Catholic liturgy and its supporting role in the preaching of the Good News.